A LITTLE girl has become the first to receive the unusual Botox treatment for cerebral palsy at University Hospital of North Tees.

Five-year-old Amy Bolton and her family are hoping to soon be seeing the benefits of the injections usually reserved for cosmetic purposes.

The benefits of botulinum toxin type A - better known as Botox - in treating cerebral palsy were first discovered by doctors in the 1990s.

And now little Amy has become the first to benefit at the University Hospital of North Tees.

The Botox has been injected into her calves to relax the muscles with the aim of giving the pupil of St Mark’s Primary School in Stockton, an improved stance.

Joanne Bolton, 35, a full-time carer and mum to Amy and her four other children Zack, 12, Melannie, 10, Evie, four, Arron, three, raised her eyebrows when the treatment was first suggested.

She said: “To begin with I thought Botox? - What are you going on about? She is five years old, she has no wrinkles - I said I will have it as well thank you very much!

“Once you understand the theory you can see why it will help and I have total faith in the doctors at North Tees.

"It’s to give her a better walking position because her hips and everything suffer with the way she walks and it will ease the stress on them.

"She is probably going to need more as she goes along but if it helps her I’m all for it.”

The Botox treatment was given to Amy on Valentine’s Day and mum Joanne and dad Mark, 37, a night shift supervisor of wagon loading in Hartlepool, are now seeing the youngster moving keenly about their Lauder Close home in Elm Tree.

Cerebral palsy is an abnormality on the brain which affects posture, movement and co-ordination.

Amy walks on tiptoes at the moment but it is hoped the Botox treatment will help her walk from her heel instead.

“My long-term hope is while the Botox is doing its job we can stretch her muscles so she is more comfortable and able to stand with a normal stance,” said Joanne.

Dr Beena Kurup, who is in charge of Amy’s treatment, acknowledged the first reaction of the parents of her patients is to think of cosmetic surgery.

“Unfortunately it has that type of publicity,” she said. “But it is a fantastic medicine and useful for many conditions affecting muscles and nerves.”